Overview
Renée Evangelista provides clients with sophisticated estate planning and estate settlement techniques to save clients gift, estate and income taxes, while ensuring that their property passes according to their wishes. She is a trustee of numerous private trusts and has routinely served as executor of client estates. Renée regularly appears in Superior Court, representing trustees and trust beneficiaries on accounting actions and trust reformations.
Experience
Successfully arranged for the approval of a five year trust accounting action involving 150 beneficiaries
Managed the successful coordination of a $55 million trust dispute
Managed the successful division of a trust to allow principal distributions to trust beneficiaries
Handled the successful division of a trust into separate shares for each family line
Actively represents clients in probate court matters, such as will contests, creditor claim issues and contested guardianship members, drawing on her five years of experience as an assistant probate judge for the City of Warwick, RI
Routinely drafts and oversees the execution and administration of grantor retained annuity trusts, dynasty trusts (generation-skipping trusts), special needs trusts, private foundations, limited liability companies and other such entities, when providing estate planning for clients
Assisted with the probate proceedings in the Newport Probate Court for the Estate of Doris Duke and routinely settles estates for clients and their families
Utilizes asset protection techniques, including the Rhode Island Qualified Disposition Trust Act to protect clients' assets
Education and Credentials
Education
- New York University School of Law, J.D.
- Brown University, B.A.
Admissions
- State of Rhode Island
- State of New York
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- State of Connecticut
Recognition and Community
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court of any state. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See Awards Methodology.
Recognitions
Selected as the Trusts and Estates Lawyer of the Year for the Providence Metro Area by The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.), 2023
Chosen for inclusion in Chambers HNW Guide (Chambers & Partners) of recognized practitioners for wealthy individuals and families in Rhode Island, 2021-2024
Chosen for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.), Trusts and Estates, 2011-2025
Selected as an honoree to the Providence Business News' Leaders & Achievers Awards program, 2022
Honored by Rhode Island Monthly for Professional Excellence in Law Award for Wills, Trust and Estates, 2021-2023
Recipient of the Harold B. Soloveitzik Professional Leadership Award from the Rhode Island Foundation, 2018
Selected to the list of Rhode Island Super Lawyers (Thompson Reuters), Estate and Probate, Estate and Trust Litigation, 2013-2021, 2024
Community Involvement
Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute at Brown University, Advisory Board Member
Anthony Quinn Foundation, International Board of Advisors
The Edward and Virginia Routhier Foundation, Board Member
Lifespan Professional Advisory Committee, Former Member
Hasbro Children's Hospital, Advisory Council, Former Member
Wheeler School of Providence, RI, Board of Trustees, Former Member
Trinity Repertory Company, Board of Trustees, Former Member
Providence Children's Museum, Board of Trustees, Former Member
Providence Catholic Diocese, Board of Governors, Former Member
Rhode Island Foundation, Professional Advisory Council, Former Member
Women's Sports Foundation, Financial Committee, Former Member
International Tennis Hall of Fame, Board of Directors and Development Committee, Former Member
In The Media
Media Mention
- Professional Excellence in Law Awards: Rhode Island Monthly, Rhode Island Monthly , July 18, 2024
- PBN Recognizes Top Business Women of 2024, Providence Business News, May 24, 2024
- Day Pitney Moves Providence Law Office to 100 Westminster, Providence Business First, August 21, 2023
- Professional Excellence in Law Awards: Rhode Island Monthly, Rhode Island Monthly, May 30, 2023
- PBN Recognizes 2022 Leaders & Achievers Honorees; Renee Evangelista, Providence Business News , August 19, 2022
- Day Pitney Adds Counsel To Its Trusts and Estates Practice, Law360, July 26, 2022
- Professional Excellence in Law Awards: Rhode Island Monthly, Rhode Island Monthly, June 3, 2022
- Day Pitney Completes Merger with Rhode Island Firm, Law.com, July 16, 2021
- South Florida Law Firm Continues Expansion After Merging With Rhode Island Firm, South Florida Business and Wealth, July 15, 2021
- Day Pitney Completes Merger With Howland Evangelista Kohlenberg, Metro Hartford Alliance, July 12, 2021
- Day Pitney Completes Merger with Howland, Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly, July 9, 2021
- Day Pitney Completes Merger with Rhode Island Law Firm, Hartford Business, July 9, 2021
- Day Pitney Expands to RI With Completed Trusts Firm Merger, Law360, July 9, 2021
- Professional Excellence in Law Awards: Rhode Island Monthly, Rhode Island Monthly
- Professional Excellence in Law Awards: Rhode Island Monthly, Rhode Island Monthly, June 1, 2021